Open AccessTRACE ELEMENT PROBLEMS IN THE WAIRARAPA
Author(s) -
N. D. Grace
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
proceedings of the new zealand grassland association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1179-4577
pISSN - 0369-3902
DOI - 10.33584/jnzg.1969.31.1263
Subject(s) - pasture , grazing , copper deficiency , copper , molybdenum , copper metabolism , livestock , biology , zoology , chemistry , agronomy , environmental chemistry , ecology , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry
Copper deficiency in cattle is reflected by unthriftiness, reproductive problems, anaemia, poor growth and scours, while in sheep osteoporosis and ataxia conditions are observed in lambs. Copper deficiency can be induced in animals grazing copper-adequate pastures by an increase in dietary molybdenum The excess molybdenum interferes with the copper metabolism and reduces the blood and liver levels of copper. Increasing the dietary copper imake overcomes the toxic effect of molybdenum. The possibility of inducing a copper deficiency in grazing livestock must be kept in mind when improving pasture production by the addition of molybdenum and changing pasture species.